COME HIS CHILDREN
By Rev. Gerri Janeway
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children, listen, He speaks.
It seems yesterday was peaceful and calm
In just a few days peace has all gone.
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children, listen as He speaks.
Daddies are drunken with selfish desires;
Not caring for families who are falling apart.
Fatherless children not knowing their dad
Hearts are broken, lonely and sad.
It's all about me, my fun and my pleasure,.
Not those children I father who should be my treasure.
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.
Mom’s not at home. She must work to provide
The needs of her children are often thrown aside.
Mom is tired, discouraged and blue;
Depressed and weary not knowing what else to do.
Latch key kids at home all alone.
Wishing for simple things, 'like a happy home'.
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.
Teens are struggling with school, home and peers
The world is bidding high for their souls.
Offering them everything that glitters but not all is gold.
Searching for Truth and Reality, Where were God's Seers?
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.
Young children abused and cast aside,
Many beaten and raped and destroyed inside.
Pain and affliction is all they've known.
Empty and hurting and all alone.
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His Children and listen as he speaks.
Look in the nursery where babies lay;
Unwanted and unloved in hospitals today.
Unwed young mothers are only children too.
Babies with daddies too young to care
Have rejected their children.
They can't find the time to spare.
Many small babies and children,
Abused and beaten, they die, it's true…
At the hand of daddies or boyfriends too.
Where are the ones to love and protect
The little ones who can't defend themselves.
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.
The blood of innocents cry out to me.
Abortion of millions of babies who sleep.
Children never allowed to live…
To great a responsibility and nothing to give…
A life so precious yet destroyed before birth;
You counted as nothing and said it had no worth.
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as He speaks.
With lawlessness, cheating and lies.
Leaders think the things they do they hide.
Drunkards, liars, whoremongers too
Think it's alright the things they do.
Harlot and druggies, hypocrites too
False accusers, the proud and profane;
All who have reproached and despised His name.
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen as he speaks.
The stench of sin and shedding of innocent blood;
Has reached into the Heaven's above.
The Father's heart is broken and His Spirit grieved
Judgment is coming for the earth to receive.
Many are getting nervous and worried today
Hoping that things will change bringing a better day.
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and listen He's about to speak.
Earthquakes and fires, floods and storms;
Famine and drought, violence and want;
Freedoms lost, bondage and death
Will be the reward of those with whom He dealt.
Yet, turned a deaf ear and blinded eye
Those who where hard-hearted and would not cry out
For the innocent blood that was shed,
The sins of the people so vastly that spread;
From adults to teens, to the children too,
Tainting all that was beautiful and precious too.
Blood mixed with wine and pleasure they knew;
Now my wrath mixed with anger will visit you.
”Hide", they cry, "from him who speaks;
”From him who makes the nations weep".
You will not hide and escape His wrath.
You will be destroyed as the winter chaff.
I extended mercy and you would not heed.
Now in your fear you pretend to believe…
It is too late for you to repent.
The day of mercy is far spent.
Come His children and take a peek;
Come His children and weep as He speaks.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
COME HIS CHILDREN
Next month is Child Abuse Awareness Month. This poem was written and sent to me by my Sister in the Lord, Rev. Gerri Janeway.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God!
This is an excerpt from a column on Tentmakers Ministries:
digg story ~ Submitted by my friend and Brother in the Lord, ChristNewsWatch
So the idea of rage did not enter the picture until the 13th century. Jonathan Edwards, I am sure, used the word in the sense of 'rage' and yet his god was also certainly a 'narrow,' and 'constricted,' god.
Isn't it rather peculiar that those we see exhibiting the most intolerance, anger, and short-temperedness also usually preach a god in their own image? Look to the preacher who spends a great deal of his time and energy raking people over the coals, warning them of the wrath to come and then spend a few days with them observing how they interact with people. You will most likely discover they act just like the god they preach. We do become conformed to the image we worship, don't we?
Those most adamant in their warnings of the "wrath to come" love to quote the scripture, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." Then they usually quote a few strong wrath scriptures and tie it all together with a good dose of hell-fire. They never quote this scripture in context because it would take the wind right out of their sail.Romans 12:19 (KJV) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.You see, children of the Beloved, our Father wants to take vengeance away from us because we kill with it, we are unjust with it, we falsely accuse with it. When we kill in the anger of vengeance, we cannot bring that person back to life. But our Father says that He can, "kill and make alive again." (Deut. 32:39)
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Our Father says the way to overcome evil is with good. If your enemy is hungry, feed him-don't kill him! If you want to kill him, kill him with kindness. Jesus holds the keys to death and hell. Jesus is able to use death and "hades" for our good, not our ultimate destruction. Even Paul, learned how to use destruction in the proper way. Remember when he turned a member of the Corinthian assembly over to Satan for the "destruction of the flesh" that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord?
So then, those who preach an "angry" god, preach a narrow god, one who can't redeem most of those who he died for. He is either powerless to save, to angry to want to forgive, or too lazy to give a damn.
Within ancient religions, we find such gods. These are the gods today peddled by many preachers who still preach the "angry god." Yes, they even call Him Jesus. But it may be surprising to you that the Manichaeanism Babylonian religion also preached a Father, a Son named Jesus, a Holy Spirit, and a Satan.
In the Zoroastrian religion, the predecessor of Manichaeanism, the two leading gods were Ahura Mazda and Ahriman. Ahriman was also known as Angra Mainyu. The word "Angra" is also found as "Angri" in some dictionaries. "Angri" was the bad god who would eternally have all the bad people in his kingdom when time ceased.
Now it seems our friend Jonathan Edwards, in his sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" (a sermon copied by many modern day preachers) has made the God of Christianity an "angry" God. Unbeknownst to him, he has put himself in the hands of the bad god of the religion which is the basis for his theology. How ironic!! Those who want an angry god will get an angry god. But I am afraid they will be surprised to discover on whom the anger will fall. "Judgment will be merciless for the man who acted mercilessly. But mercy can laugh at judgment." (James 2:13, Barclay trans.) Angry people are usually least merciful. Ever notice how angry preachers get when they get into their hell-fire and brimstone routine? They are always pointing their finger at something which is going to be judged without mercy not realizing that when judgment falls, it will fall on their own heads. [Please continue reading]
digg story ~ Submitted by my friend and Brother in the Lord, ChristNewsWatch
Thursday, March 12, 2009
What You've Just Seen...
So, once again, my very good friend and Sister in the Lord, Rev. Gerri Janeway, sent me an email that I needed to share with you today. Now, I've seen this one before, this story has been around. Oh, but there's a good reason it has. It's a great story, and the rumor is, something like this actually happened... somewhere, sometime... Okay, I won't keep teasing you; here's the story:
What You've Just Seen...This is just one of those remarkable stories that must stay "viral." It's a story that we must all stay aware of, and remember. God actually DOES use us all. We ARE part of His Creation, part of His Word. Our actions speak volumes.
His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative Church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it.
One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. People are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.
By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.
Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do.
How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?
It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him... You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.
Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."
Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read! I asked the Lord to bless you, as I prayed for you today. To guide you and protect you as you go along your way...
His love is always with you,
His promises are true,
And when we give Him all our cares,
You know He will see us through.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name!" ~ Psalms 103:1
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Going Through a Dry Spell
By David WilkersonThursday, February 26, 2009
Even though I preach to thousands, there are times I feel very dry, far away from the warm presence of God. When I’m dry and empty, I have no great yearning to read the Word and little compulsion to pray. I know my faith is intact and my love for Jesus is strong, and I have no desire to taste the things of this world. It’s just that I can’t seem to touch God for days, maybe even weeks.
Have you ever watched other Christians get blessed while you feel nothing? They testify of God’s answers to their prayers and shed tears of joy. They seem to live on a mountaintop of happy experiences while you just plod along, loving Jesus but not setting the world on fire.
I believe all true believers experience dry spells at various times in their Christian lives. Even Jesus felt the isolation when he cried aloud, “Father, why have you forsaken me?” [Continue reading]
Saturday, March 7, 2009
A Good Thing to Dream About!
By John Kubicek
Yes, I know, I haven't been writing a lot on this blog lately. I've been a busy person. I do my best to go through all the email I receive. However, I have to resign myself to quickly scan through everything I get sent. Now and then, there will be one that catches my immediate attention. Like this one, that stated in the subject line, "My dream on 01/31/09......", that I received from my great friend and Sister in the Lord, Rev. Gerri Janeway, who had forwarded an email, originating with Dawn of Berea, KY:
And for some, I'm afraid, is that what was written about above was a nightmare. I'll explain. You see, there is a hotly disputed topic in the Christian theology: That topic is the Rapture.
Keep in mind that there are many denominations of the Christian RELIGION. For some Christian denominations, talk of the Rapture is considered to be blasphemous. At the same time, there are those that DO believe in a Rapture, but NOT in their lifetime, Heaven forbid!
The complexity gets even deeper when you consider the variances in Rapture theories. There are, as mentioned above, those that believe there is no Rapture. But for those that do believe in a Rapture, you have Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation Rapture ideologies. And among those that believe in any of the various Rapture scenarios, some believe it will be soon, and some doubt it will be in their lifetime.
I'm thinking, though, that God had a purpose for me today. Of all of the emails I received, and could have chosen to check out, I read this one sent to me by Rev. Gerri. It happened to be on a topic that I've been praying about, because I want to be ready when it happens, and I also want others to be ready. In that email, you'll see that Dawn does a very good job in the way she has describes the way that the vision in the window was approaching, coming closer and closer ("He's coming!"). It finally arrives with the ultimately great climax of Him being here for us!
To me, what I read from Dawn was a sign. I do believe that the time is getting short - very, very short - and I've been compelled to shout it from my rooftop (not literally, of course, because it is cold, windy, and raining). Really, this blog post today will probably do. And believe me, what it will do may not be pretty for those of us that understand Dawn's dream.
With that being said, let me ask: Are you ready?
Yes, I know, I haven't been writing a lot on this blog lately. I've been a busy person. I do my best to go through all the email I receive. However, I have to resign myself to quickly scan through everything I get sent. Now and then, there will be one that catches my immediate attention. Like this one, that stated in the subject line, "My dream on 01/31/09......", that I received from my great friend and Sister in the Lord, Rev. Gerri Janeway, who had forwarded an email, originating with Dawn of Berea, KY:
What a wonderful thing to have a dream about!I have intended to share this dream with you guys, but with all the work I was doing with Glenn on a "house flip", I was too tired to even check email for several weeks. This dream was amazing and one that I will never forget, and I hope it blesses and encourages you.
Here it is:
I was standing on a beach with a huge group of people. I didn't know any of these people; it was just a large mass of people. The people were standing a good distance from the water's edge, but I was standing apart from them facing them (ocean behind me). I turned to walk to the water's edge where I saw a HUGE window (the size of a movie screen). It was a window with glass, panes, and the wooden frame. The sky was very beautiful - almost like a sunset (shades of orange and red). I could hear the waves of the ocean crashing, and even though there was a large group of people, no one was making a sound.
There was only the sound of the ocean. When I walked to the water's edge, I looked into the window suspended in mid air above the ocean. I could see all sorts of "signs of the times" going on -- soldiers at war in a desert, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. I ran back to the group of people and said, "He's on His way; He's coming!" (speaking of Jesus).
I ran back to the water's edge and looked into the window again. I saw the same things as before only they were closer to the window. Again, I ran back to the people with even more excitement and said the same thing as before, "He's coming! He's coming!"
And I ran back to the water's edge for a third time, looked into the window, and saw the same signs, but they were right at the window (just on the other side of the glass). When I ran back to the people, a man and child stepped out of the crowd and presented me with a t-shirt neatly folded. The child was standing to the right of the man. I could not see their faces and did not know them. When the man handed me the shirt, I unfolded it and looked at the front. It had "Psalm 44:4" printed on it in big letters and numbers. I took the shirt and laid it on the beach (careful to get all of the wrinkles out of it) facing the huge window.
As I laid face down on the shirt, I was still yelling to the people "He's coming! He's coming!"
The group of people also laid face down on the beach, facing the window. There was a bright light that began to shine brightly from the eastern part of the sky. It was so intense that I could feel it literally go through my body (somewhat hard to explain). There was also a great warmth and peace that came with it. As the light appeared, I said (very calmly and with sort of a "relief" in my voice), "He's here."
As the light became brighter and stronger, my body began to rise from the ground. I knew this was the Rapture talked about in the Bible, and at this point, I woke up. It was the kind of dream that felt so very real! I looked up Psalm 44:4 when I woke up as I had no clue what it said.
This is Psalm 44:4:
You are my King, O GodCommand victories for Jacob (another name for Israel)
I read the whole chapter 44, and there were some other Scriptures that reminded me of my dream, such as verse 3: But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the "light of Your countenance. Because You favored them."
Or verse 25: For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground."
Psalm 74:12 was a cross reference verse of Psalm 44:4
For God is my King from of old,Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
I truly believe that Jesus is coming SOON. I know we have heard this for many years, but never in history have all of the signs up to the Rapture been fulfilled. It is the next "big event" in prophecy. It is my prayer that you guys are ready to meet Him. If you have any questions or comments, I would be happy to hear them. Not one detail of this dream was "made up." I tried to remember every single detail so that you could, hopefully, "see" it as I was seeing it. It has truly made me more and more anxious to see Jesus.....what a wonderful day that will be!God blessyou,
Dawn
Berea, Ky
And for some, I'm afraid, is that what was written about above was a nightmare. I'll explain. You see, there is a hotly disputed topic in the Christian theology: That topic is the Rapture.
Keep in mind that there are many denominations of the Christian RELIGION. For some Christian denominations, talk of the Rapture is considered to be blasphemous. At the same time, there are those that DO believe in a Rapture, but NOT in their lifetime, Heaven forbid!
The complexity gets even deeper when you consider the variances in Rapture theories. There are, as mentioned above, those that believe there is no Rapture. But for those that do believe in a Rapture, you have Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation Rapture ideologies. And among those that believe in any of the various Rapture scenarios, some believe it will be soon, and some doubt it will be in their lifetime.
I'm thinking, though, that God had a purpose for me today. Of all of the emails I received, and could have chosen to check out, I read this one sent to me by Rev. Gerri. It happened to be on a topic that I've been praying about, because I want to be ready when it happens, and I also want others to be ready. In that email, you'll see that Dawn does a very good job in the way she has describes the way that the vision in the window was approaching, coming closer and closer ("He's coming!"). It finally arrives with the ultimately great climax of Him being here for us!
To me, what I read from Dawn was a sign. I do believe that the time is getting short - very, very short - and I've been compelled to shout it from my rooftop (not literally, of course, because it is cold, windy, and raining). Really, this blog post today will probably do. And believe me, what it will do may not be pretty for those of us that understand Dawn's dream.
With that being said, let me ask: Are you ready?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Church asks, "Is Science so bad?"
By John Kubicek
I saw this one segment on Fox & Friends this morning, with Lauren Green, a Fox News correspondent, discussing "Evolution Week IV". The segment starts out with poll results that show a significant proportion of Americans that are "undecided" when it comes to the question of Faith vs Evolution.
So let's just watch the following video of that segment, and then we'll discuss what we're seeing here:
Of course, I won't be able to help us resolve an issue with this writing, one that has been debated for many years. That isn't my intent, either. At this time in our lives, the real question is how far the Church will go to satisfy the scientific community. It sure seems that the Church is doing as much as they can to reconcile religion with science. And there is a lot we can discuss in that area.
Centuries ago, the Earth was flat, and the universe revolved around the planet Earth, according to the professed ideologies of the Christian (Roman Catholic) Church and academia of the time. The "science" of that time was forced upon the people. But then, along comes Copernicus and Galileo, who discover evidence - with mathematical proof - that our universe is set up in a way greatly different from what the Church at that time was teaching.
What we are witnessing now, though, is a different story. Along came Charles Darwin, a couple centuries ago, with his theory of Evolution. Not long after Darwin's theories became the norm in academia, environmental alarmists came along, claiming that man was destroying the planet. We are now told of global warming (or climate change) being caused by man.
Our future generations are being indoctrinated the same way as were the serfs of the Middle Ages. We are now told to accept the ideologies of evolution and man-made climate change, in much the same way as when we were being told the Earth was flat. There is a parallel that should be bothering you, especially considering the video above. Once academia and recognized and accepted religions meet with ideas that aren't exactly proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, could we be facing another period of the Dark Ages when dissent was not allowed? Are we already there?
The Church is dangerously flirting with New Age philosophies. It wasn't that long ago that the Pope came out with the revelation that there could be a plausible chance of the fact that we are not alone in the universe. Could there be a better way to soften us up for the strong indoctrination to get us to accept all of the worldly dogma?
It wasn't that long ago that many leaders of the Christian Church jumped on to the global warming train. And now, they are being pressured to accept the Darwin theory of Evoloution. What is next? That is the question that Christians need to ask, and determine how far we must go to appease the social conscious of these times. It is an issue that we need to stay aware of.
I saw this one segment on Fox & Friends this morning, with Lauren Green, a Fox News correspondent, discussing "Evolution Week IV". The segment starts out with poll results that show a significant proportion of Americans that are "undecided" when it comes to the question of Faith vs Evolution.
So let's just watch the following video of that segment, and then we'll discuss what we're seeing here:
Of course, I won't be able to help us resolve an issue with this writing, one that has been debated for many years. That isn't my intent, either. At this time in our lives, the real question is how far the Church will go to satisfy the scientific community. It sure seems that the Church is doing as much as they can to reconcile religion with science. And there is a lot we can discuss in that area.
Centuries ago, the Earth was flat, and the universe revolved around the planet Earth, according to the professed ideologies of the Christian (Roman Catholic) Church and academia of the time. The "science" of that time was forced upon the people. But then, along comes Copernicus and Galileo, who discover evidence - with mathematical proof - that our universe is set up in a way greatly different from what the Church at that time was teaching.
What we are witnessing now, though, is a different story. Along came Charles Darwin, a couple centuries ago, with his theory of Evolution. Not long after Darwin's theories became the norm in academia, environmental alarmists came along, claiming that man was destroying the planet. We are now told of global warming (or climate change) being caused by man.
Our future generations are being indoctrinated the same way as were the serfs of the Middle Ages. We are now told to accept the ideologies of evolution and man-made climate change, in much the same way as when we were being told the Earth was flat. There is a parallel that should be bothering you, especially considering the video above. Once academia and recognized and accepted religions meet with ideas that aren't exactly proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, could we be facing another period of the Dark Ages when dissent was not allowed? Are we already there?
The Church is dangerously flirting with New Age philosophies. It wasn't that long ago that the Pope came out with the revelation that there could be a plausible chance of the fact that we are not alone in the universe. Could there be a better way to soften us up for the strong indoctrination to get us to accept all of the worldly dogma?
It wasn't that long ago that many leaders of the Christian Church jumped on to the global warming train. And now, they are being pressured to accept the Darwin theory of Evoloution. What is next? That is the question that Christians need to ask, and determine how far we must go to appease the social conscious of these times. It is an issue that we need to stay aware of.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
End Times: Ready, or Not (Here He comes!)
By John Kubicek
There are different ways that people look at the End Times prophecies.
Some will say that the End Times won't happen, ever. (That is, unless mankind is responsible for the end of the Earth and humanity.)
Some will say that the End Times will happen, but probably not in their lifetime. (Their fragile little minds are just so totally boggled by all that is going on, that for now, they will keep on ignoring the various events we keep hearing about.)
Some will say that the End Times will happen, just because there are people that want it to happen, and will do what they can to make it happen.
And then, there are those that are telling us that it WILL HAPPEN, according to Holy Scripture:
But wait, that video segment is an example of man trying to set a time. Only the Lord knows that time, and it is not up to us.
So, here is the stance that I take, which I am calling, "Ready, or not (Here He comes!)". While I am very convinced that the Lord is coming soon, that there will be a Rapture before the Tribulations, the only thing that I can advise is that you make sure that you are ready "if" and whenever the time comes.
In my philosophy of End Time scenarios, I believe in the Biblical prophecies, and I'm seeing things that seem to be getting the ball rolling. Setting the stage: More pieces of the puzzle are appearing before our eyes, on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many people just don't see it. Many are following the elite in thinking that only Man can comprehend and solve all of our complex problems.
But if you are one of those that believes that only God can get us through this, then this blog is for you. End Times? Who knows, but just be Ready, or Not.
There are different ways that people look at the End Times prophecies.
Some will say that the End Times won't happen, ever. (That is, unless mankind is responsible for the end of the Earth and humanity.)
Some will say that the End Times will happen, but probably not in their lifetime. (Their fragile little minds are just so totally boggled by all that is going on, that for now, they will keep on ignoring the various events we keep hearing about.)
Some will say that the End Times will happen, just because there are people that want it to happen, and will do what they can to make it happen.
And then, there are those that are telling us that it WILL HAPPEN, according to Holy Scripture:
But wait, that video segment is an example of man trying to set a time. Only the Lord knows that time, and it is not up to us.
So, here is the stance that I take, which I am calling, "Ready, or not (Here He comes!)". While I am very convinced that the Lord is coming soon, that there will be a Rapture before the Tribulations, the only thing that I can advise is that you make sure that you are ready "if" and whenever the time comes.
In my philosophy of End Time scenarios, I believe in the Biblical prophecies, and I'm seeing things that seem to be getting the ball rolling. Setting the stage: More pieces of the puzzle are appearing before our eyes, on a daily basis. Unfortunately, many people just don't see it. Many are following the elite in thinking that only Man can comprehend and solve all of our complex problems.
But if you are one of those that believes that only God can get us through this, then this blog is for you. End Times? Who knows, but just be Ready, or Not.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Your Language Will Determine Your Destiny
By John Kubicek
The above came from the website, NoCussing.com. In the last week, I wrote two commentaries about this at johnny2k Is Home. That all came about when watching the news last Saturday (1/24/09), and was able to record what I put up on my youtube channel:
I then followed that up several days later with my diatribe about Glenn Beck using coarse language on his new show at Fox News and his "Swear Jar"..
However, today, I saw something on youtube.com like I've never seen before. While it was disgusting and vile, the youtube video that I saw seemed to be telling me about the fruit on the tree, and will probably show the truth of the title of this piece, "Your Language Will Determine Your Destiny." Somehow or another, somebody was able to collect a few "out-takes" (?) from various news sources. The people on this video, "journalists," better hope that their mothers never, ever watch this video that I will only give you a link to (see below). Sailors would blush! Should you go to the following link, you will quickly understand why I didn't embed the video here:
WARNING: The following video, should you click on the link, contains extreme obscenities. It is only provided here, that should you want to know more about people you may have respected at one time, you will see the bad fruit on the tree:
THIS IS WHY OUR COUNTRY CAN'T WAKE UP OR GET THE TRUTH!!!
I actually grew up at a time when cussing and obscenities were looked down at. The people that used that kind of language were not considered to be very decent people. Well, at least, that was the way I was taught. But then, I hit the upper grades in elementary school: Recess and trash talk. Then, when I started my high school job at a gas station, and summertime jobs while in college, foul language was all I ever heard. I suspect it was the same for everyone else growing up in the 60's and 70's. It was way more than many of us were used to. And then, the stint in the military? Forget about it. There weren't too many words uttered that didn't start with an "F". The sad thing, it has only gotten worse through my life, from the 80's until now.
It seems that people are no longer ashamed to say these words, let alone embarrased to hear them. People that use that language now assume it doesn't bother anyone. There is no more remorse; on their part, anyway. And what are we to do?
First of all, I can tell you something that I recommend doing. And I have found that it is difficult to do, even with a very conscious effort; don't be one that uses that language in any situation - even when you are alone. Yes, that's not easy, especially for those that commute to work... It's very difficult sometimes to hold back! However, I have personally challenged myself to make an effort to not even THINK in those words.... no matter how mad I am at people that change lanes without signalling.... Okay, it is just called doing what we can to CONTROL anger, to control our speech by controlling our thoughts. No easy task, in these days. Just think... continue to think: SELF-CONTROL. And seriously, "Your Language Will Determine Your Destiny".
RELATED STORIES:
The Audacity of a Young American Hero
Glenn Beck's "The Swear Jar"
"Your words become your thoughts.
Your thoughts become your behavior.
Your behavior becomes your character.
Your character becomes your destiny."
The above came from the website, NoCussing.com. In the last week, I wrote two commentaries about this at johnny2k Is Home. That all came about when watching the news last Saturday (1/24/09), and was able to record what I put up on my youtube channel:
I then followed that up several days later with my diatribe about Glenn Beck using coarse language on his new show at Fox News and his "Swear Jar"..
However, today, I saw something on youtube.com like I've never seen before. While it was disgusting and vile, the youtube video that I saw seemed to be telling me about the fruit on the tree, and will probably show the truth of the title of this piece, "Your Language Will Determine Your Destiny." Somehow or another, somebody was able to collect a few "out-takes" (?) from various news sources. The people on this video, "journalists," better hope that their mothers never, ever watch this video that I will only give you a link to (see below). Sailors would blush! Should you go to the following link, you will quickly understand why I didn't embed the video here:
WARNING: The following video, should you click on the link, contains extreme obscenities. It is only provided here, that should you want to know more about people you may have respected at one time, you will see the bad fruit on the tree:
THIS IS WHY OUR COUNTRY CAN'T WAKE UP OR GET THE TRUTH!!!
I actually grew up at a time when cussing and obscenities were looked down at. The people that used that kind of language were not considered to be very decent people. Well, at least, that was the way I was taught. But then, I hit the upper grades in elementary school: Recess and trash talk. Then, when I started my high school job at a gas station, and summertime jobs while in college, foul language was all I ever heard. I suspect it was the same for everyone else growing up in the 60's and 70's. It was way more than many of us were used to. And then, the stint in the military? Forget about it. There weren't too many words uttered that didn't start with an "F". The sad thing, it has only gotten worse through my life, from the 80's until now.
It seems that people are no longer ashamed to say these words, let alone embarrased to hear them. People that use that language now assume it doesn't bother anyone. There is no more remorse; on their part, anyway. And what are we to do?
First of all, I can tell you something that I recommend doing. And I have found that it is difficult to do, even with a very conscious effort; don't be one that uses that language in any situation - even when you are alone. Yes, that's not easy, especially for those that commute to work... It's very difficult sometimes to hold back! However, I have personally challenged myself to make an effort to not even THINK in those words.... no matter how mad I am at people that change lanes without signalling.... Okay, it is just called doing what we can to CONTROL anger, to control our speech by controlling our thoughts. No easy task, in these days. Just think... continue to think: SELF-CONTROL. And seriously, "Your Language Will Determine Your Destiny".
RELATED STORIES:
The Audacity of a Young American Hero
Glenn Beck's "The Swear Jar"
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
A Red,White, and Blue Christmas - Year Around
By John Kubicek
That annual pressure from the holidays, Christmas especially, is about to end. You may soon be just paying off the last of the credit card debt from your Christmas spending spree. In fact, for many of us, our annual Christmas "giving program" may be something that we make payments on throughout the year. And guess what? There is another segment of our society that also pays with their lives, limbs, and time lost from being with their families - year around.
The people that give year around, and that pay for that giving - year around - are our military forces. Many of them had to spend the Christmas and New Years holidays overseas, in Iraq or Afghanistan, or where ever they are stationed; obviously, unable to come home to spend time with their families.
"A SONG FOR OUR TROOPS" (Christmas Letters)
While that video displayed our love for our troops, especially during the holidays, the next one is all about displaying our love, year around, anytime:
A Red, White, and Blue Christmas, Anytime - For Our Troops!
That annual pressure from the holidays, Christmas especially, is about to end. You may soon be just paying off the last of the credit card debt from your Christmas spending spree. In fact, for many of us, our annual Christmas "giving program" may be something that we make payments on throughout the year. And guess what? There is another segment of our society that also pays with their lives, limbs, and time lost from being with their families - year around.
The people that give year around, and that pay for that giving - year around - are our military forces. Many of them had to spend the Christmas and New Years holidays overseas, in Iraq or Afghanistan, or where ever they are stationed; obviously, unable to come home to spend time with their families.
"A SONG FOR OUR TROOPS" (Christmas Letters)
While that video displayed our love for our troops, especially during the holidays, the next one is all about displaying our love, year around, anytime:
A Red, White, and Blue Christmas, Anytime - For Our Troops!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Doing it all for the glory of God
~ Guest Writer ~
By rjw
Recently, I offered to submit a contribution for an upcoming issue of Generations. I had in mind an accounting of a recent and difficult trial in my life that the Lord is still bringing me through. For several weeks I toiled to produce something, but I could not put down in few enough words the accounting of what occurred in my life. The text of my story did not allow enough space to include God and what He had done for me. For days I pondered over what I wanted to say and how to say it. The truth was, I had writers block and I could not write what I wanted to contribute.
I had made a commitment to get my contribution to Generations submitted within a certain time frame. I wrote, deleted some, then rewrote a little more without any result. Frustrated, I asked God a simple Question; “What am I doing wrong? What would you have me say, Lord?”
His answer came to me very quietly. Quiet as it was, His answer was very clear. I was focusing too much on the details of my recent trials. Too much print was being devoted to my problems, while too little space was devoted to the Lord. Additionally, I realized that I was glorifying myself through how I had suffered through my problems, while I failed to humble myself in giving God all the glory for what He was doing to handle everything.
1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
What I have learned, what God has taught me, what I believe Him to be inspiring me to say is the following; Whether I am writing a submission for Generations, or in all else that I set out do in my life, I am to do it to glorify Him.
I must learn to kick my pride to the curb through humbling myself. I understand that whatever I do, all of my actions and thoughts are to be done to Glorify God. This is such a simple lesson, yet it is also such a gargantuan task for me as just a mere man.
In my business dealings, personal relationships and in all of my deeds and thoughts, I must do all things in such a fashion that glorifies God, not me. The task before me is monumental which I will undoubtedly foul up from time to time. I know that over time, placing God before me in all that I set out to do will become easier as it becomes habit.
Thank God I have the saving grace of Jesus, that when I fail, He is forgiving and loving enough to let me have another chance in honoring and glorifying Him in all that I do.
By rjw
Recently, I offered to submit a contribution for an upcoming issue of Generations. I had in mind an accounting of a recent and difficult trial in my life that the Lord is still bringing me through. For several weeks I toiled to produce something, but I could not put down in few enough words the accounting of what occurred in my life. The text of my story did not allow enough space to include God and what He had done for me. For days I pondered over what I wanted to say and how to say it. The truth was, I had writers block and I could not write what I wanted to contribute.
I had made a commitment to get my contribution to Generations submitted within a certain time frame. I wrote, deleted some, then rewrote a little more without any result. Frustrated, I asked God a simple Question; “What am I doing wrong? What would you have me say, Lord?”
His answer came to me very quietly. Quiet as it was, His answer was very clear. I was focusing too much on the details of my recent trials. Too much print was being devoted to my problems, while too little space was devoted to the Lord. Additionally, I realized that I was glorifying myself through how I had suffered through my problems, while I failed to humble myself in giving God all the glory for what He was doing to handle everything.
1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
What I have learned, what God has taught me, what I believe Him to be inspiring me to say is the following; Whether I am writing a submission for Generations, or in all else that I set out do in my life, I am to do it to glorify Him.
I must learn to kick my pride to the curb through humbling myself. I understand that whatever I do, all of my actions and thoughts are to be done to Glorify God. This is such a simple lesson, yet it is also such a gargantuan task for me as just a mere man.
In my business dealings, personal relationships and in all of my deeds and thoughts, I must do all things in such a fashion that glorifies God, not me. The task before me is monumental which I will undoubtedly foul up from time to time. I know that over time, placing God before me in all that I set out to do will become easier as it becomes habit.
Thank God I have the saving grace of Jesus, that when I fail, He is forgiving and loving enough to let me have another chance in honoring and glorifying Him in all that I do.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Miracles Do Happen! But, are prayers always answered?
By John Kubicek
I saw a clip today that I had to post here. Some good questions were asked.
And I was very intrigued by Huckabee's answers.
While this post and the video bring up some great questions that we all have, I was very impressed by the way Glenn Beck spoke of this incident on his Friday show. The question of whether it was a miracle, I believe, was answered affirmitively and conclusively. Yet, that second question, "But, are prayers always answered?" may be one that sticks with you.
There seems to be times when we can easily identify miracles. However, not knowing why the miracles happen when they do, and maybe when we feel they don't happen when we need them, is a question that's way above our paygrade, as the above video suggests. And sometimes, we may not even realize the Lord has answered our prayers - in His own way. That is why, when I pray, I make sure to ALWAYS include the part that I am so very thankful for all He has done for me!
It is good that life always provides us with the twists and turns. The times when we have the most doubt and fear are when God teaches us the most, assuming we allow it. The rougher our lives get, be assured, it is when God is teaching us the most!
RELATED STORY:
Glenn Beck: What a miracle looks like
I saw a clip today that I had to post here. Some good questions were asked.
And I was very intrigued by Huckabee's answers.
While this post and the video bring up some great questions that we all have, I was very impressed by the way Glenn Beck spoke of this incident on his Friday show. The question of whether it was a miracle, I believe, was answered affirmitively and conclusively. Yet, that second question, "But, are prayers always answered?" may be one that sticks with you.
There seems to be times when we can easily identify miracles. However, not knowing why the miracles happen when they do, and maybe when we feel they don't happen when we need them, is a question that's way above our paygrade, as the above video suggests. And sometimes, we may not even realize the Lord has answered our prayers - in His own way. That is why, when I pray, I make sure to ALWAYS include the part that I am so very thankful for all He has done for me!
It is good that life always provides us with the twists and turns. The times when we have the most doubt and fear are when God teaches us the most, assuming we allow it. The rougher our lives get, be assured, it is when God is teaching us the most!
RELATED STORY:
Glenn Beck: What a miracle looks like
Friday, January 16, 2009
Ladies and Gentlemen, Brace Yourself For Impact
By John Kubicek
Maybe... just maybe, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Brace Yourself For Impact" could be the sweetest words you will ever hear. At least at that point, you get the final chance to repent, to say your prayers, or even think of all of the things that you missed doing, or wanted to do, in your life.
And I know, for those that have a terminal illness, there may be too much time to think about life. And there is the other side of that coin, where we are given no chance to "change our lives." There are those times when fatal circumstances can happen in a heartbeat. You know, like when they say, "he never knew what hit him," as they investigate a scene of a head-on collision...
No, it is not my intention to be morbid this morning. Not in any shape or form. What I mean to be saying is how amazing it could be when the Lord gives us a few moments to reflect on what we've learned in life. We get a chance to think about what we value.
And believe me, please, just know that the words, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Brace Yourself For Impact," won't necessarily apply to an imminent plane crash. For those of us that feel that we are getting a warning shot over the bow, we really, really want to know what the Lord wants us to do in our repentence. We are getting that feeling more and more, and I guess it is a great thing to focus on it a little while.
So, now, ask yourself these questions: Are you ready, should you find out that you will be in for a long terminal disease? Are you ready should you hear the words, "Brace yourself for impact?" And most importantly, would you be ready if you were to assume room temperature with no advanced notice?
To find out how you would deal with whichever scenario comes your way, have you ever spent any time evaluating your life?
And, is it coincidence that this story would come to you today? We saw a miracle yesterday, with the safe landing of a large airliner on the Hudson River... Just hours before that incident, as I was driving home from work, I was close to being involved in a major highway collision. No, there was no coincidence. God kept me around to write this post today. Was it meant for you?
Maybe... just maybe, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Brace Yourself For Impact" could be the sweetest words you will ever hear. At least at that point, you get the final chance to repent, to say your prayers, or even think of all of the things that you missed doing, or wanted to do, in your life.
And I know, for those that have a terminal illness, there may be too much time to think about life. And there is the other side of that coin, where we are given no chance to "change our lives." There are those times when fatal circumstances can happen in a heartbeat. You know, like when they say, "he never knew what hit him," as they investigate a scene of a head-on collision...
No, it is not my intention to be morbid this morning. Not in any shape or form. What I mean to be saying is how amazing it could be when the Lord gives us a few moments to reflect on what we've learned in life. We get a chance to think about what we value.
And believe me, please, just know that the words, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Brace Yourself For Impact," won't necessarily apply to an imminent plane crash. For those of us that feel that we are getting a warning shot over the bow, we really, really want to know what the Lord wants us to do in our repentence. We are getting that feeling more and more, and I guess it is a great thing to focus on it a little while.
So, now, ask yourself these questions: Are you ready, should you find out that you will be in for a long terminal disease? Are you ready should you hear the words, "Brace yourself for impact?" And most importantly, would you be ready if you were to assume room temperature with no advanced notice?
To find out how you would deal with whichever scenario comes your way, have you ever spent any time evaluating your life?
And, is it coincidence that this story would come to you today? We saw a miracle yesterday, with the safe landing of a large airliner on the Hudson River... Just hours before that incident, as I was driving home from work, I was close to being involved in a major highway collision. No, there was no coincidence. God kept me around to write this post today. Was it meant for you?
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
From a "Closet" Longhorn Fan
By John Kubicek
So, what does a college football bowl game have to do with Christian ministry? Or, maybe we should ask that question from a different perspective. Perhaps we could ask what Christian ministry has to do with a college football bowl game? From either perspective, I hope I'll be able to answer those questions.
If this blog post had to do with politics and religion, I wouldn't expect a large audience. Except for a person I know - a Longhorn fan - that went to sleep after the first half of the Texas vs Ohio State game, being that the score at that point was 6-3, in the favor of the Buckeyes, I would suspect that all of the Buckeye and Longhorn fans had the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game on Fox tuned in last night. I did, but I did it the right way. I slept during the first half, and watched the second half. That was the way to do it.
It was an amazing game. That second half was something you don't get to see all that often. A come-back by the Longhorns, and just when you thought that they would put the game away, another comeback - this time by the Buckeyes. With a little over two minutes left in the game, the Longhorns marched 79 yards down the field for a touchdown - another pass from Colt McCoy to Quan Cosby - and went ahead by a score of 24 to 21.
I was very happy about the outcome, as Ohio State is part of the Big Ten, and were the last hope for a Big Ten win in the college football bowl games - other than the Iowa Hawkeyes. That is one of the reasons, admittedly, that I was cheering on the Longhorns. But now, I have another good reason. It was during the post-game show that I saw something wonderful that the ACLU hasn't yet found a way to eliminate from our lives. There was an exposure of the Christian culture, a display of the willingness to display what many Christians are all about. Commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, in a national venue, in the view of millions of people.
I remember back when Kurt Warner (a Cedar Rapids, IA native) took the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl, and won, and in his post game remarks, happened to mention how much Jesus meant in his life. And I've seen him continuously doing the same thing at every opportunity. How great! And how awesome it is to see the public display and words straight from a Christian mouth, coming from a superstar - and not get bleeped. No, the most bleeping I've seen in a while on network television would be the garbage coming from the mouth of a misfit, Kathy Griffin. This gives me hope!
The fact that Christian testimonies are able to still be aired in the sports venues should give all of us hope! It might also explain why I've loved the Chicago Cubs games that are aired on a couple great networks. There have been many testimonies I've seen from the likes of Carlos Zambrano and others, all aired without censorship from those networks. And there is where we have hope: Sports networks that have allowed the message of knowing the Lord in our lives to be aired.
So, I guess I should now allow you to see the things I saw following the game last night. That explains the first video. The second one is a video that came up in related videos after uploading mine.
So, what does a college football bowl game have to do with Christian ministry? Or, maybe we should ask that question from a different perspective. Perhaps we could ask what Christian ministry has to do with a college football bowl game? From either perspective, I hope I'll be able to answer those questions.
If this blog post had to do with politics and religion, I wouldn't expect a large audience. Except for a person I know - a Longhorn fan - that went to sleep after the first half of the Texas vs Ohio State game, being that the score at that point was 6-3, in the favor of the Buckeyes, I would suspect that all of the Buckeye and Longhorn fans had the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game on Fox tuned in last night. I did, but I did it the right way. I slept during the first half, and watched the second half. That was the way to do it.
It was an amazing game. That second half was something you don't get to see all that often. A come-back by the Longhorns, and just when you thought that they would put the game away, another comeback - this time by the Buckeyes. With a little over two minutes left in the game, the Longhorns marched 79 yards down the field for a touchdown - another pass from Colt McCoy to Quan Cosby - and went ahead by a score of 24 to 21.
I was very happy about the outcome, as Ohio State is part of the Big Ten, and were the last hope for a Big Ten win in the college football bowl games - other than the Iowa Hawkeyes. That is one of the reasons, admittedly, that I was cheering on the Longhorns. But now, I have another good reason. It was during the post-game show that I saw something wonderful that the ACLU hasn't yet found a way to eliminate from our lives. There was an exposure of the Christian culture, a display of the willingness to display what many Christians are all about. Commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, in a national venue, in the view of millions of people.
I remember back when Kurt Warner (a Cedar Rapids, IA native) took the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl, and won, and in his post game remarks, happened to mention how much Jesus meant in his life. And I've seen him continuously doing the same thing at every opportunity. How great! And how awesome it is to see the public display and words straight from a Christian mouth, coming from a superstar - and not get bleeped. No, the most bleeping I've seen in a while on network television would be the garbage coming from the mouth of a misfit, Kathy Griffin. This gives me hope!
The fact that Christian testimonies are able to still be aired in the sports venues should give all of us hope! It might also explain why I've loved the Chicago Cubs games that are aired on a couple great networks. There have been many testimonies I've seen from the likes of Carlos Zambrano and others, all aired without censorship from those networks. And there is where we have hope: Sports networks that have allowed the message of knowing the Lord in our lives to be aired.
So, I guess I should now allow you to see the things I saw following the game last night. That explains the first video. The second one is a video that came up in related videos after uploading mine.
A Tribute to the Texas Longhorns from Iowa (Hawkeye Land)
Seniors Praying - James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins, Colt McCoy, and Marcus Freeman say a prayer after the 2009 Fiesta Bowl
If I ever decided to move from Iowa, which would obviously be in an attempt to escape Iowa winters, I'd probably move to Texas. I would always be a Hawkeye, but if I was living down there in the Republic, I wouldn't have to be a closet Longhorn fan! Hook 'em Horns!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Can we trust Biblical prophecy?
From GotQuestions.org - The Bible has the answers.
Question: "How can we trust that Biblical prophecy can indeed predict the future?"digg story, submitted by hookedonjesus
Answer: The main reason we can trust biblical prophecy is that it, like the rest of Scripture, was written — literally “God-breathed” — by the Creator of the universe. It is inerrant, perfect, and true. We must understand that before we can understand the role of biblical prophecy.
Biblical prophecy plays two roles. It foretells the future, and it explains what the positive or negative results of future events will be. Prophecy may announce events that bring joy and pleasure or fear and foreboding. When prophecy is ignored, it is usually because the hearers don’t like what they hear for one reason or another. Biblical prophecy is not usually general in nature. It normally is very specific as to how it will affect someone or something. But it is always dependable and worthy of our complete trust. We can allow prophecy to help shape our lives, giving us direction and guidance in serving our Lord. It should be a source of strength and instruction for us. Unlike what we hear called “prophecy” today, both in the church and outside the church, true biblical prophecy is always accurate and precise. What God prophesies always occurs. [Continue reading]
Monday, December 29, 2008
2009: Make it the "Acts of Kindness YEAR"
By John Kubicek
It was on my way home from work and my stop at the store when I had the impulse to do something nice for somebody. Yes, I said it was an impulse. The grocery store that I frequent enrout to my domicile was unusually busy this morning, but there was only one cashier. It was, as usual in the early morning on my trek home, Paula (name not changed to protect the innocent, and it doesn't matter, because I do not even know her last name). She's a nice lady, about my age. She knows my first name, too, and it is wonderful to have that kind of relationship with people where you always shop.
I only stopped at the grocery store to pick up a couple things. Hearing that we may be getting more snow in the next day or two, I decided to stock up. I picked up extra cans of various veggies along with some other essentials. Getting it today would save me the trouble of battling the elements to do any shopping in the next few days while I enjoy my weekend.
Being that I had a cart loaded with all of this stuff when my shopping was done ... uh, actually just a bunch of items, I let somebody go ahead of me at the cashier line because he only had a couple of things. No problem. And then, just as I started loading all of those things on that conveyor belt, somebody came up behind me, also with a couple little things. Paula had already started ringing up my desired merchandise, so I couldn't really let that guy go ahead of me. So, I simply stated that he should put those couple of things in with my stuff, I'd pay for it, it was on me. That way, Paula could give him his stuff and he could be on his way!
Of course, the gentleman balked at first. You know, the thing where the person says, "You don't have to do that...", and of course, I persisted, and he relented. Paula looked at me across the counter as she was scanning my goods, with the wide eyes that asked with out saying a word, "What are you doing?"
I told her a lie. I said it was "National Acts of Kindness Day." And I quickly added further to the fib by amending that to "National Acts of Kindness Week." Like I said, it was just one of those things that came to me, pretty much on the spot.
There is an alterior motive for me to relate this story to you today. Obviously, being that this all happened spontaneously, what I did wasn't premeditated, but there was the great reason - right there - why you needed to hear about this today.
I had written about it somewhere else this last weekend - oh, yeah, in the email I sent to Kevin Wall, filling in for the resting Glenn Beck - that we have to choose betwen "Individual efforts or dependence on the government.... " Kevin Wall talked about it, and Pat Boone wrote about it. It's a question of, "Would you rather?"
There will be many people that will face certain financial hardships in the coming year(s). I can tell you this from my usual right-wing slant: The government ain't going to be there to help every person through the financial storm. And, as drastic as things may be financially in 2009, I doubt that you and I will be able to bail out every individual facing financial devastation. But, guess what? We can help, just by doing nice things for people when it is possible. If anything, just to get their morale back up, to give people some hope.
By making 2009 the "Acts of Kindness YEAR," maybe we can make it contagious. Just doing some little things in quantity could make a difference in somebody's life. This is just an idea, based on what Jesus may have commanded us to do... Oh, yeah, he did! But, He didn't command us to pass on that awesome responsibility to some bureaucrats in high government positions.
No, He made it very clear that taking care of and loving people was our sole responsibility, to the best of our ability. And I don't know about you, but I'm not financially able to make a difference in that way most of the time, but it isn't that expensive to hold a door open for somebody or help a little old lady across a busy street, or allow somebody in heavy traffic to change lanes without us having a hissy-fit. Be kind. Being kind is an act of kindness. That is all it will take to make it contagious. I think you'll see.
And, I may as well say it, if you follow this plan, there's something in it for you. It is like crying with a great feeling in my heart all the way home from the grocery store today. The feeling that you get from it is better than the high the best drugs would ever give you.
Jesus didn't just suggest it, but he commanded: Love Thy Neighbor.
It was on my way home from work and my stop at the store when I had the impulse to do something nice for somebody. Yes, I said it was an impulse. The grocery store that I frequent enrout to my domicile was unusually busy this morning, but there was only one cashier. It was, as usual in the early morning on my trek home, Paula (name not changed to protect the innocent, and it doesn't matter, because I do not even know her last name). She's a nice lady, about my age. She knows my first name, too, and it is wonderful to have that kind of relationship with people where you always shop.
I only stopped at the grocery store to pick up a couple things. Hearing that we may be getting more snow in the next day or two, I decided to stock up. I picked up extra cans of various veggies along with some other essentials. Getting it today would save me the trouble of battling the elements to do any shopping in the next few days while I enjoy my weekend.
Being that I had a cart loaded with all of this stuff when my shopping was done ... uh, actually just a bunch of items, I let somebody go ahead of me at the cashier line because he only had a couple of things. No problem. And then, just as I started loading all of those things on that conveyor belt, somebody came up behind me, also with a couple little things. Paula had already started ringing up my desired merchandise, so I couldn't really let that guy go ahead of me. So, I simply stated that he should put those couple of things in with my stuff, I'd pay for it, it was on me. That way, Paula could give him his stuff and he could be on his way!
Of course, the gentleman balked at first. You know, the thing where the person says, "You don't have to do that...", and of course, I persisted, and he relented. Paula looked at me across the counter as she was scanning my goods, with the wide eyes that asked with out saying a word, "What are you doing?"
I told her a lie. I said it was "National Acts of Kindness Day." And I quickly added further to the fib by amending that to "National Acts of Kindness Week." Like I said, it was just one of those things that came to me, pretty much on the spot.
There is an alterior motive for me to relate this story to you today. Obviously, being that this all happened spontaneously, what I did wasn't premeditated, but there was the great reason - right there - why you needed to hear about this today.
I had written about it somewhere else this last weekend - oh, yeah, in the email I sent to Kevin Wall, filling in for the resting Glenn Beck - that we have to choose betwen "Individual efforts or dependence on the government.... " Kevin Wall talked about it, and Pat Boone wrote about it. It's a question of, "Would you rather?"
There will be many people that will face certain financial hardships in the coming year(s). I can tell you this from my usual right-wing slant: The government ain't going to be there to help every person through the financial storm. And, as drastic as things may be financially in 2009, I doubt that you and I will be able to bail out every individual facing financial devastation. But, guess what? We can help, just by doing nice things for people when it is possible. If anything, just to get their morale back up, to give people some hope.
By making 2009 the "Acts of Kindness YEAR," maybe we can make it contagious. Just doing some little things in quantity could make a difference in somebody's life. This is just an idea, based on what Jesus may have commanded us to do... Oh, yeah, he did! But, He didn't command us to pass on that awesome responsibility to some bureaucrats in high government positions.
No, He made it very clear that taking care of and loving people was our sole responsibility, to the best of our ability. And I don't know about you, but I'm not financially able to make a difference in that way most of the time, but it isn't that expensive to hold a door open for somebody or help a little old lady across a busy street, or allow somebody in heavy traffic to change lanes without us having a hissy-fit. Be kind. Being kind is an act of kindness. That is all it will take to make it contagious. I think you'll see.
And, I may as well say it, if you follow this plan, there's something in it for you. It is like crying with a great feeling in my heart all the way home from the grocery store today. The feeling that you get from it is better than the high the best drugs would ever give you.
Jesus didn't just suggest it, but he commanded: Love Thy Neighbor.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Glenn Beck's story of Christmas
The Glenn Beck program brings you the story of Christmas.
You can either read the transcript, or listen to the actual audio from his show. And here's the really good part: It's free! Please read and/or listen to it. I know you've probably heard the Christmas story many times. However, in this segment, Glenn discusses a perspective of the birth of Jesus that I had not ever thought of or heard before. In other words, an overlooked part of the Christmas story that may help you.
You can either read the transcript, or listen to the actual audio from his show. And here's the really good part: It's free! Please read and/or listen to it. I know you've probably heard the Christmas story many times. However, in this segment, Glenn discusses a perspective of the birth of Jesus that I had not ever thought of or heard before. In other words, an overlooked part of the Christmas story that may help you.
This is a story, this is a story that has been told so many times. We all know where it begins and how it ends. It's a story of birth and death. Of hope and despair. Of great doubt and even greater faith. That's the part we're going to concentrate on, great doubt and profound faith. As anyone can tell you who has stood at the foot of Abraham Lincoln, the Memorial in Washington D.C. and gazed up into his face, our historical figures are so often painted with such bold strokes that they become more giants than men, yet I believe to truly understand their brilliance, their courage or their faith, we need to see them first as who they really were: People just like us, people with hopes and dreams and fears. Just like us. [Continue reading or listen]digg story, submitted by bakeshowdotus
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Walk On - By Rev. Gerri Janeway
~ GUEST AUTHOR ~
Walk On
By Rev. Gerri Janeway
Don't let anyone or anything stop you, slow you, or detour you.
Walk on.
Your steps are ordered by God.
You will never walk alone.
Walk on.
Jesus promised never to leave you or forsake you.
Walk on.
The Lord will walk with you;
but, he cannot walk for you.
Walk on.
The faith walk is a choice.
There will be times that you do not feel like walking.
Walk on.
Jesus did not feel like walking the Calvary Road.
Yet, He walked on.
Walk on in persistence.
When others whom you love turn back,
Walk on.
When those you trusted and walked with turn aside,
Walk on.
When friends leave you and forsake you,
Walk on.
Don't turn to the left or the right;
keep your heart focused on your walk... And,
Walk on.
Remember, your walk is chartered and planned by God.
Walk on.
Straight is the way and narrow the gate.
Keep your feet on the Highway of Holiness.
Walk in His footsteps.
Walk on.
Never forget, many are called but, few are chosen
To walk that path.
Walk on.
He will give you courage and strength for the journey.
His Grace is sufficient.
Walk on.
We are nearing the end of the journey.
We are almost Home.
Walk on, my child, walk on.
Published with permission. © 2008 ~ Rev. Gerri Janeway. You may republish this by including this statement.
Walk On
By Rev. Gerri Janeway
Don't let anyone or anything stop you, slow you, or detour you.
Walk on.
Your steps are ordered by God.
You will never walk alone.
Walk on.
Jesus promised never to leave you or forsake you.
Walk on.
The Lord will walk with you;
but, he cannot walk for you.
Walk on.
The faith walk is a choice.
There will be times that you do not feel like walking.
Walk on.
Jesus did not feel like walking the Calvary Road.
Yet, He walked on.
Walk on in persistence.
When others whom you love turn back,
Walk on.
When those you trusted and walked with turn aside,
Walk on.
When friends leave you and forsake you,
Walk on.
Don't turn to the left or the right;
keep your heart focused on your walk... And,
Walk on.
Remember, your walk is chartered and planned by God.
Walk on.
Straight is the way and narrow the gate.
Keep your feet on the Highway of Holiness.
Walk in His footsteps.
Walk on.
Never forget, many are called but, few are chosen
To walk that path.
Walk on.
He will give you courage and strength for the journey.
His Grace is sufficient.
Walk on.
We are nearing the end of the journey.
We are almost Home.
Walk on, my child, walk on.
Published with permission. © 2008 ~ Rev. Gerri Janeway. You may republish this by including this statement.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Who are we? The answer could be overwhelming...
By John Kubicek
Very early this morning, on an extremely cold wintry day here in Iowa, I finished reading "The Christmas Sweater", the best-selling novel by Glenn Beck. I will never, ever forget the thoughts that ran through my mind as I finished the last several chapters. I was overwhelmed.
Overwhelming feelings can come in different ways. I remember, quite vividly, the way I was overwhelmed almost five years ago when my wife passed away. That was overwhelming grief. It was a storm in my life that I eventually got through, but it was difficult. It did take some time.
And then there are times when we can experience overwhelming joy. The birth of a child comes to my mind, right off the bat, especially when we are talking about the child born in a manger 2000 years ago, the great gift that God has given us.
Well, even the birth of our own children, and all that we see while our loved ones progress through life - even when they have to struggle through their own storms - can all lead to overwhelming joy!
However, each of us are going to have different reactions to the way we see the storms in our lives, just as we will take different roads to deal with the storms.
The way we deal with our storms defines who we are. For those of us who face our storms, and reach the other side of the storm as it eventually passes by, we are rewarded, in ways you may haven't thought of. You will find many people that have faced the storms in their lives and overcame them will go on to help many other people. Glenn Beck is a great example of that, as this gentleman attests to:
So, as you are struggling through your storms, the ones in your past, present, and future, you can feel additional inspiration and confidence by knowing that at some point you will be there to assist somebody else through their storm. And maybe that is why God puts those storms in front of us from time to time. That's an answer that is truly overwhelming!
Very early this morning, on an extremely cold wintry day here in Iowa, I finished reading "The Christmas Sweater", the best-selling novel by Glenn Beck. I will never, ever forget the thoughts that ran through my mind as I finished the last several chapters. I was overwhelmed.
Overwhelming feelings can come in different ways. I remember, quite vividly, the way I was overwhelmed almost five years ago when my wife passed away. That was overwhelming grief. It was a storm in my life that I eventually got through, but it was difficult. It did take some time.
And then there are times when we can experience overwhelming joy. The birth of a child comes to my mind, right off the bat, especially when we are talking about the child born in a manger 2000 years ago, the great gift that God has given us.
Well, even the birth of our own children, and all that we see while our loved ones progress through life - even when they have to struggle through their own storms - can all lead to overwhelming joy!
However, each of us are going to have different reactions to the way we see the storms in our lives, just as we will take different roads to deal with the storms.
The way we deal with our storms defines who we are. For those of us who face our storms, and reach the other side of the storm as it eventually passes by, we are rewarded, in ways you may haven't thought of. You will find many people that have faced the storms in their lives and overcame them will go on to help many other people. Glenn Beck is a great example of that, as this gentleman attests to:
So, as you are struggling through your storms, the ones in your past, present, and future, you can feel additional inspiration and confidence by knowing that at some point you will be there to assist somebody else through their storm. And maybe that is why God puts those storms in front of us from time to time. That's an answer that is truly overwhelming!
Friday, November 28, 2008
How It Begins: The Turning Point
By John Kubicek
No kidding, there is no way that I can describe how much the following video, an interview Glenn Beck did with Pat Robertson, has touched me today. And it is my prayer that this will touch many of you, too! Are you ready? Do you have a box of tissues close by? Okay, here it goes:
No kidding, there is no way that I can describe how much the following video, an interview Glenn Beck did with Pat Robertson, has touched me today. And it is my prayer that this will touch many of you, too! Are you ready? Do you have a box of tissues close by? Okay, here it goes:
After seeing the above video, the thoughts were racing through my puny little gray sponge for a brain. And that was while I developed a major plumbing leak, and water was pouring out of my eyes. That, my friends, was one major TESTIMONY of the power of Jesus Christ!
As I was saying, I was overwhelmed this morning. But that was a very good thing. I came up with the title, "How It Begins: The Turning Point," for a reason, I guess. Yeah, well, that is the point. The turning point. That really is how it begins. Somehow, as those thoughts were skidding around the twists and turns in my cranial cavity, I realized how many of the people that became Christians, that I know, who were at their last straw.
Yes, as Glenn Beck testifies, it CAN happen! Praise Jesus!
I just realized, though, that while I ramble here, nobody is really listening. I know, you may still be totally stunned by the video I just shared with you. While there were millions of things that I wanted to say, Glenn Beck had already said it all. I am still trying to wrap my mind around how profound that segment was. That was when I realized, all I had to do was to share it.
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